Crews battle wildfire in Linville Gorge

Portions of Pisgah National Forest in Burke County have been closed due to a wildfire which more than doubled in size Wednesday morning.

Officials say the Table Rock Fire grew from 40 to 100 acres. The U.S. Forest Service said later Wednesday that the blaze, about a quarter-mile southwest of Table Rock Mountain, is threatening the Outward Bound base camp area. That is in the east-central part of the Linville Gorge.

The camp is vacant, according to Stevin Wescott, public affairs officer with the U.S. Forest Service operations in North Carolina. Wescott said no injuries have been reported, and no other homes or buildings are threatened currently.

The National Weather Service office in Greer, S.C., said dry weather in recent weeks has raised the wildfire risk in the western Carolinas. The Weather Service said a couple of small wildfires were reported over the weekend near the North Carolina-Tennessee line. Crews also battled a wildfire along Interstate 77 in Surry County on Monday.

But none of those blazes was anywhere near the size of the Burke County blaze. U.S. Forest Service officials said Wednesday afternoon that zero percent of the blaze was contained, and they expect the fire to grow over the next few days.

Wescott said residents and visitors in the area likely will see considerable activity in coming days.

“The incident command center will be at Catawba Meadows Park,” said Wescott, referring to a facility near Morganton. “It is likely that folks will see Forest Service activity at the park. And it is possible that helicopters may land and take off at the park.”

Officials say they do not know how the blaze started. They ask that anyone with information contact U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Jason Crisp at 828-652-2144.

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — Approximately 40 U.S. Forest Service firefighters and others are working to contain the wildfire in the Linville Gorge Wilderness area of the Grandfather Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest. The wildfire grew from 40 acres to 100 acres overnight.

The fire, known as the “Table Rock Fire,” is about one-quarter mile southwest of Table Rock Mountain in the east-central part of the Gorge. Firefighters are cleaning up existing roads, trails and existing firelines from previous fires to contain the wildfire. Zero percent of the fire is contained at this time. The fire burned actively through the night and is expected to grow in size over the next couple days.

Firefighters continue to protect the Outward Bound base camp area, which is vacant. No other homes or structures are threatened at this time. No injuries are reported. Trails near Table Rock Mountain are closed as is the Table Rock picnic area.

A Type 3 Incident Command Team will be in place by 6 p.m. today. The National Forests in North Carolina Forest Supervisor has approved the use of mechanized equipment, including leaf blowers and chainsaws, to suppress the wildfire in the wilderness area. The Forest Service will use bulldozers outside the wilderness area. Two helicopters will also be used on the wildfire. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) should be in place over the fire today to protect the safety of aviation assets assigned to the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Persons with information about individuals who may have been in this area last weekend are asked to call U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Jason Crisp at 828-652-2144.

The U.S. Forest Service is working with the N.C. Forest Service, Burke County Emergency Management, and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission to suppress the fire.

A prescribed burn, scheduled to be conducted by the Forest Service in Burke County yesterday, was postponed due to the weather conditions.

Forest Service Fighting Wildfire in Linville Gorge

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — Approximately 20 U.S. Forest Service firefighters and others are working to contain a 40-acre wildfire in the Linville Gorge Wilderness area of the Grandfather Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The fire, known as the “Tablerock Fire,” is about one-quarter mile southwest of Tablerock Mountain. The fire is located in the east-central part of the Gorge and is threatening the Outward Bound base camp area. The camp area is vacant. No other homes or structures are threatened at this time. No injuries are reported. Trails near Tablerock Mountain are closed as is the Tablerock picnic area.

Currently, firefighters are creating fire lines to suppress the fire. A Type 3 Incident Command Team has been ordered to suppress the fire and will be in place by the end of tomorrow. This will bring the total number of Forest Service and other firefighters to close to 40. The National Forests in North Carolina Forest Supervisor has approved the use of mechanized equipment (such as leaf blowers and chainsaws) to suppress the wildfire in the wilderness area. The Forest Service will use bulldozers outside the wilderness area. Two helicopters will also help suppress the wildfire.

The U.S. Forest Service is working with the N.C. Forest Service, Burke County Emergency Management, and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission to suppress the fire.

A prescribed burn, scheduled to be conducted by the Forest Service in Burke County today, has been postponed due to the weather conditions.